Best Dive Bar in Oakland County

Gusoline Alley; 309 S. Center St., Royal Oak; 248-545-2235

Readers' Choice

The casual nightwalker, tiptoeing on the edge of Royal Oak’s downtown, might stumble their way into Gusoline Alley and become enthralled by its walls of Motor City memorabilia and great music from an unrivaled, legendary jukebox that has everything from cheery jazz hits from Thelonious Monk and Dave Brubeck to rebel country from Johnny Cash and Hank Williams. It’s those things, along with decent drinks that range from local brews to ones of the Bavarian kind, that have brought Gusoline back on this list. Add in the exceptional bathroom graffiti and Bartender Patrick Tierney’s sideburns and you have a dive bar that not many in Oakland can compete with.